Dawn Patrol: Doing Stuff I Like

Dawn Patrol by elbonner featuring knit sweaters

I haven't been to the beach, let alone surfed, in so long it's making me crazy! Usually around this time of year I get really brave/stupid and try to conjure up the will to go to the beach for a winter surf with a friend.Working full-time and away from a surfable beach has made planning this activity out kind of difficult (not to mention everyone thinking I'm dumb and crazy, including myself). I think of it as exercise where you burn twice as many calories because your body is fighting off hypothermia! I haven't done the whole "dawn patrol" thing since high school when my little surfer friend and I got up at the butt-crack of dawn to get to the beach before work or school. I miss those days of riding around in my surf truck, sweaters on, coffee or hot chocolate in the thermos, and being very vocal about the fact that someone should invent a genital warming feature to go inside the crotch of a wetsuit. You can only pee on yourself out there but so many times. Above I created a little piece of my past: an outfit perfect for a chilly beach day. There's nothing better after a morning cold shock to the system than to out on some soft, dry clothes that you threw in the dryer before you left the house and wrapped in saran wrap to keep the heat in (hey, it works!). The good part about winter surfing is that no one is there to see you fall, because they're all at home snug in their PJ's while. Maybe if I can convince myself to get up from my warm bed to throw myself in the cold ocean then I can relive that period of my life, even if it's just for a little bit. I only really remember the good times had during those frosty mornings so it's time to make myself look like a bad-ass and brave the frigid Atlantic!

Thanksgiving Friendly Outfits

Thanksgiving Friendly Outfits by elbonner featuring knit sweaters

Thanksgiving and gluttony go hand-in-hand which means your cute new jeans and horizontally-striped sweater might feel like a clingy, cotton-blended prison once all that rich food has been stuffed in your gob.  The answer to the age old question"what outfit can I get away with that's as comfortable as pajamas, but better looking than a prison jumpsuit?". The answer are structured leggings, flowy tops, and chunky sweaters. ALL of these things are on trend and always look chic if paired correctly. Just remember, the rule is if you're wearing just plain stretchy leggings, your top needs to go over your butt/crutch or else you will look like you've forgotten to wear pants. With structured leggings (ones that look like real pants) you can get away with basically wearing stretch pants and still looking good. Structured leggings are called that because they have details that make them more than just stretchy pants: zippers, paneling, rivets, and even prints can keep you from looking like an uncoordinated ballet teacher and the outfits above show how leggings can look holiday appropriate. So go ahead, have another slice of pie, you've got the room!

L-R
Acne sweater, River Island panel leggings, Frye boots
Equipment shirt, H&M leggings, Topshop boots
Rag & Bone sweater, Seven For All Mankind jeggings, Isabel Marant boots